George Takei came into the winery I worked at one summer in high school. He was wicked cool. I suppose the younger guy with him may have been his boyfriend - and if that's the case - George could pull in some high quality tail. That was an attractive man. I think this is precisely the kind of reaction that Hardaway's comments deserve, though. It demands mockery.

I was going to post an article from yesterday's Sydney Morning Herald on the South Sydney Rabbitohs Rugby League Team and their outreach program to the local gay community. This is also the team that's part-owned by Russell Crowe and has banned cheerleaders, by the way. I held off because of the recent train wrecks where gay issues have been raised. I so want this thread to be different. Please.

I choose to be optimistic about this thread. You know, since George came out, he seems to be enjoying life a hell of a lot more, but I gotta say, his ability to deliver lines convincingly has not exactly improved.

I'm with Weedy. Takei was in town for a convention once several years ago, and stayed in the hotel where I worked as a Room Service Captain. As with most VIP guests, he had certain requests, preferences, etc. Unlike most VIP guests, he was one of the most cordial, polite, funny people you'll ever have the priviledge to meet. Tipped like money was going out of style, too. You go, George.

That was funny, and made a good point about this whole thing, we need more humor, not bashing. It would be nice if we didn't judge people so much, but if that judging takes place, we need this type of counter judgement, HUMOR. I am not Gay, but OK with it, because it gives me more chances to find women. The more gay guys we have the less straight ones, for all those striaght and bi-women! It's a joke people....

George Takei's voice is almost enough to make me want to go where this man has never gone before. Does this help the situation at all, though? I mean, yes, it's hilarious to you and I, the literate, semi-rational portion of the audience. But aren't homophobes going to say, "Lookit that fag! He's grabbin' his johnson and sayin' he wants ta fuck him! That's how they all act!" Is that helping?

But aren't homophobes going to say, "Lookit that fag! He's grabbin' his johnson and sayin' he wants ta fuck him! That's how they all act!" As a former homophobe, I would say yes. My first experience around gay men was terrible. They were trying to grab me and coherce me. For a long time I did think that's how they all were. What helped me learn that they were not was a party I went to. Typical party, lots of beer and liquor, men and women. My friend told me the next day that half of the guys there were gay and I held conversations with a few of them. Before she told me, I had no idea any of them were gay. Hopefully, John Amaechi's former teammates learned the same lesson.

Drood, if what you're looking for is tolerance or respect for the homosexual lifestyle, one thing you may not want to do is become like what you think "homophobes" act like. In your desire to legitimize homosexuality, your bashing of others against it, makes you sound like some with whom you disagree. I do agree, it wasn't right what Hardaway said.

I have no desire to legitimize homosexuality, because there is nothing to legitimize. What consenting adults do behind closed doors is none of my business. Even if it involves farm animals of some kind. As for myself, I'm happily married with two kids, but several friends of mine are gay. Basically what I'm saying is if you publically act like an asshole, like Hardaway did, he deserves whatever is coming to him. Rule of three baby... Two paragraphs to explain a throway gag... (come on, gay street toughs? I wish I could remember where I'd stolen that line from!) *sigh* Must aim lower next time...

Takei is hilarious. Love him on the Stern Shows. I hope Tim Hardaway was watching. I think I have it all figured out on the issue. Chris Webber is C-Webb. Tracy MacGrady is T-Mac. Maybe somebody is just sick and tired of being T-Hard all the damn time!

Fatty, Thanks for the link to Mary Buckheit's excellent work.. I think she nailed it. There's no way you can have room for personal feelings, hatreds, biases, prejudices, etc., in any field of endeavor. Her response, as well as the wonderful job by George Takei, just about put Hardaway where he should be. That is, in the ranks of the terminally stupid. ...just sick and tired of being T-Hard all the damn time! Great line, urall. I wish I'd thought of it.

Fatty, Thanks for the link to Mary Buckheit's excellent work.. I think she nailed it. I particularly liked the coachrant: "We're on this field right now OK. Right now we're all right here. Right here! We are all blessed to be out here OK. I don't care about your tests or your teachers out here. Right now I don't care about your problems or your periods. I don't care about your boyfriends OK … hell I don't care about your girlfriends... A bomb could go off behind this bench and damnit you better not turn around! Get your minds off everything else that's not on this field OK. Let it go and get your head in the game. This is all that matters right now OK…" OK.